Nineteen football fans were arrested and several injured after clashing with Macedonian police in Kosovo-related violence during a Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia, officials have said.
The incident occurred during Russia's 2-0 win over Macedonia at Skopje's Gradski Stadium on Wednesday, said a senior interior ministry official Thursday.
"Nineteen people, including 16 Russians and three Serbs, were arrested for attacking the police force and disturbing law and order," the official, who requested anonymity, told AFP.
Following one of the visiting side's goals, a group of supporters started damaging stadium fittings before turning on police officers who had attempted to stop the violence.
The match was also marred by nationalist chants, with Macedonian supporters singing "Chechnya, Chechnya" while Russian fans held a large banner with the inscription: "Kosovo is a Serbian land".
The Macedonian supporters involved in the violence were believed to be ethnic Albanians, who comprise around a quarter of the tiny Balkan country's two million population.
Kosovo has been administered by the United Nations since the end of its 1998-1999 war between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian guerillas.
Its future status is set to be determined by early next year, with its ethnic Albanian majority seeking independence, a demand that Serbia hopes its traditional ally Russia will help to block with a UN Security Council veto.
Source: AFP
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